Friends of Castleshaw Roman Forts
@offorts.bsky.social
Set up to look after the Roman forts in the Castleshaw valley. We continue to explore the archaeology as well as encouraging visitors to this unique site.
Pinned
Many thanks to Kirsty Lloyd for her talk last night Theory, Inference & Interpretation in Archaeology. Our next lecture is on 21 Oct when Ian Miller, County Archaeologist for Gtr Manchester will update us on archaeology highlights from the last year. More info to follow….
September 24, 2026 at 8:32 AM
Many thanks to Kirsty Lloyd for her talk last night Theory, Inference & Interpretation in Archaeology. Our next lecture is on 21 Oct when Ian Miller, County Archaeologist for Gtr Manchester will update us on archaeology highlights from the last year. More info to follow….
Details of the first lecture of our Autumn/Winter season together with dates for all our other talks.
September 21, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Details of the first lecture of our Autumn/Winter season together with dates for all our other talks.
Our 1st lecture of our Autumn/Winter season is at 7.30pm next Weds 23rd Sept at the Civic Centre, Uppermill. Kirsty Lloyd will talk on “Ask it the question: Theory, Inference & Interpretation in Archaeology”. See ‘Events’ on www.castleshawarchaeology.co.uk for more info
September 15, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Our 1st lecture of our Autumn/Winter season is at 7.30pm next Weds 23rd Sept at the Civic Centre, Uppermill. Kirsty Lloyd will talk on “Ask it the question: Theory, Inference & Interpretation in Archaeology”. See ‘Events’ on www.castleshawarchaeology.co.uk for more info
Reposted by Friends of Castleshaw Roman Forts
A sliver of Caligula.
That’s probably enough for anyone, tbf.
If you squint , it looks like he’s peering at you through a gap in the curtains 😳
Regional Archaeological Museum Syracuse.
That’s probably enough for anyone, tbf.
If you squint , it looks like he’s peering at you through a gap in the curtains 😳
Regional Archaeological Museum Syracuse.
September 4, 2026 at 7:19 AM
A sliver of Caligula.
That’s probably enough for anyone, tbf.
If you squint , it looks like he’s peering at you through a gap in the curtains 😳
Regional Archaeological Museum Syracuse.
That’s probably enough for anyone, tbf.
If you squint , it looks like he’s peering at you through a gap in the curtains 😳
Regional Archaeological Museum Syracuse.
So lucky with the weather today as we continue to uncover evidence of burning, postholes and cooking hearths. A nice piece of Roman Samian ware made a couple of our diggers very happy. We return this Saturday and Sunday for our final days of excavating #Castleshaw #Romans
September 1, 2026 at 3:28 PM
So lucky with the weather today as we continue to uncover evidence of burning, postholes and cooking hearths. A nice piece of Roman Samian ware made a couple of our diggers very happy. We return this Saturday and Sunday for our final days of excavating #Castleshaw #Romans
Although we were rained off yesterday the damp conditions are helping to show up some nice features such as charcoal spreads, beam slots & possible drains. Our heroic digging team even arrived an hour earlier so we could make the best of the weather We return tomorrow & Tuesday #Castleshaw #Romans
August 30, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Although we were rained off yesterday the damp conditions are helping to show up some nice features such as charcoal spreads, beam slots & possible drains. Our heroic digging team even arrived an hour earlier so we could make the best of the weather We return tomorrow & Tuesday #Castleshaw #Romans
Due to the poor weather forecast we have decided to cancel our excavations tomorrow. We hope to return on Sunday 31st, Monday 1st & Tuesday 2nd September (weather permitting) #Castleshaw #Romans
August 28, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Due to the poor weather forecast we have decided to cancel our excavations tomorrow. We hope to return on Sunday 31st, Monday 1st & Tuesday 2nd September (weather permitting) #Castleshaw #Romans
We found this lovely, large piece of Roman glass today. We also continued to uncover more Roman features one of which could have been a latrine ditch….the soil that came of it was certainly very smelly! 🥴 #Castleshaw #Roman
August 24, 2026 at 7:17 PM
We found this lovely, large piece of Roman glass today. We also continued to uncover more Roman features one of which could have been a latrine ditch….the soil that came of it was certainly very smelly! 🥴 #Castleshaw #Roman
After all the rain this week it wasn’t surprising that we had some pretty deep puddles in our trenches to bale out. Before we did though we let Duckus Quackus have a swim 😀. Lots of new trenches opened today and Roman features beginning to show up. We return on Sunday 23rd #Castleshaw #Romans
August 21, 2026 at 3:44 PM
After all the rain this week it wasn’t surprising that we had some pretty deep puddles in our trenches to bale out. Before we did though we let Duckus Quackus have a swim 😀. Lots of new trenches opened today and Roman features beginning to show up. We return on Sunday 23rd #Castleshaw #Romans
A few shots of linear features and beam slots found recently - these would have supported Roman timber buildings within the fort annexe & were very deep in places. We also found another bread oven though this was much damaged by later activities. We return tomorrow, 23rd & 24th #Castleshaw #Romans
August 20, 2026 at 6:01 PM
A few shots of linear features and beam slots found recently - these would have supported Roman timber buildings within the fort annexe & were very deep in places. We also found another bread oven though this was much damaged by later activities. We return tomorrow, 23rd & 24th #Castleshaw #Romans
Some fantastic drone photos taken yesterday of our excavation site and the Castleshaw valley. We return for further digging on Friday 21st, Sunday 23rd & Monday 24th August.
August 17, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Some fantastic drone photos taken yesterday of our excavation site and the Castleshaw valley. We return for further digging on Friday 21st, Sunday 23rd & Monday 24th August.
A light shower this morning really helped with showing up the colours on site. Lots of drone photography today which provides a perfect birds eye view & can be so useful when analysing archaeological features. Digging again tomorrow then 3 days off until we return on Friday 21st #Castleshaw #Romans
August 16, 2026 at 3:38 PM
A light shower this morning really helped with showing up the colours on site. Lots of drone photography today which provides a perfect birds eye view & can be so useful when analysing archaeological features. Digging again tomorrow then 3 days off until we return on Friday 21st #Castleshaw #Romans
Reposted by Friends of Castleshaw Roman Forts
Timeless humour!
A 2,000 year-old Roman souvenir pen with a joke inscription roughly equivalent to:
“I went to Rome and all I got you was this cheap pen!" 😂
Dated circa 70 AD, this iron stylus pen was recovered in London during excavations by MOLA.
📷 Juan Jose Fuldain/MOLA
#Archaeology
A 2,000 year-old Roman souvenir pen with a joke inscription roughly equivalent to:
“I went to Rome and all I got you was this cheap pen!" 😂
Dated circa 70 AD, this iron stylus pen was recovered in London during excavations by MOLA.
📷 Juan Jose Fuldain/MOLA
#Archaeology
![The photo by Juan Jose Fuldain for MOLA shows four images of the same Roman iron stylus (pen) one below the other, with knib to the left. The stylus is octagonal in shape, with a dot-punched inscription along its length on four alternate sides. The stylus is 132 mm long and 5 mm thick, and the letters are circa 2 mm high. The four images of the pen show the four lines of inscribed text (highlighted) which read:
'ab urbe v[e]n[i] munus tibi gratum adf (e)ro acul[eat]um ut habe[a]s memor[ia]m nostra(m)
rogo si fortuna darlelt quo possem
largius ut longa via ceu sacculus est (v)acuus'
Translated as
I have come from the City. I bring you a welcome gift with a sharp point that you may remember me.
I ask, if fortune allowed, that I might be able (to give) as generously as the way is long (and) as my purse is empty.'
This inscription is generally interpreted by scholars as a humorous, tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment by the giver of the cheapness of the gift.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j56ydp325adovobhwpkzc6sp/bafkreiflmumn37zldrqn4gepyqs55kamhvatkkpepk5tq56rqq4pssxb64)
August 15, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Timeless humour!
A 2,000 year-old Roman souvenir pen with a joke inscription roughly equivalent to:
“I went to Rome and all I got you was this cheap pen!" 😂
Dated circa 70 AD, this iron stylus pen was recovered in London during excavations by MOLA.
📷 Juan Jose Fuldain/MOLA
#Archaeology
A 2,000 year-old Roman souvenir pen with a joke inscription roughly equivalent to:
“I went to Rome and all I got you was this cheap pen!" 😂
Dated circa 70 AD, this iron stylus pen was recovered in London during excavations by MOLA.
📷 Juan Jose Fuldain/MOLA
#Archaeology
Some great weather conditions so the soil colour changes are showing up well. We’re not too sure what this feature is yet - possibly a ditch and were hoping to uncover more of it tomorrow🤞 #Castleshaw #Roman
August 15, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Some great weather conditions so the soil colour changes are showing up well. We’re not too sure what this feature is yet - possibly a ditch and were hoping to uncover more of it tomorrow🤞 #Castleshaw #Roman
Reposted by Friends of Castleshaw Roman Forts
Part of the fabulous remains of the vicus bathhouse complex at Roman Binchester (Vinovia). Located near Bishop Auckland in County Durham, the site has now reopened under the auspices of The Auckland Project 📸 My own #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanBritain #Binchester #AucklandProject
August 15, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Part of the fabulous remains of the vicus bathhouse complex at Roman Binchester (Vinovia). Located near Bishop Auckland in County Durham, the site has now reopened under the auspices of The Auckland Project 📸 My own #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanBritain #Binchester #AucklandProject
Thankfully it was cooler on site today and our diggers continued to uncover Roman features such as stake holes, postholes and beam slots that would have supported a wooden building. We return tomorrow and are digging until Monday #Castleshaw #Roman
August 14, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Thankfully it was cooler on site today and our diggers continued to uncover Roman features such as stake holes, postholes and beam slots that would have supported a wooden building. We return tomorrow and are digging until Monday #Castleshaw #Roman
Reposted by Friends of Castleshaw Roman Forts
The herringbone walls that surround the medieval church of St. Cybi's on Holy Island, Anglesey are part of a C4th Roman fort - layer upon layer of time.
August 14, 2026 at 6:00 AM
The herringbone walls that surround the medieval church of St. Cybi's on Holy Island, Anglesey are part of a C4th Roman fort - layer upon layer of time.
Reposted by Friends of Castleshaw Roman Forts
A little Roman bronze dog affectionately known as the ‘Chesters Scottie dog’ 🐾
This lovely figurine was found at Chesters Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall. You can meet this good boy at the site museum!
📷 English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places...
#RomanFortThursday
#Archaeology
This lovely figurine was found at Chesters Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall. You can meet this good boy at the site museum!
📷 English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places...
#RomanFortThursday
#Archaeology
August 13, 2026 at 11:25 AM
A little Roman bronze dog affectionately known as the ‘Chesters Scottie dog’ 🐾
This lovely figurine was found at Chesters Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall. You can meet this good boy at the site museum!
📷 English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places...
#RomanFortThursday
#Archaeology
This lovely figurine was found at Chesters Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall. You can meet this good boy at the site museum!
📷 English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places...
#RomanFortThursday
#Archaeology
We return to our excavations in the Roman fort annexe tomorrow & are there until Monday - everything crossed for some cooler weather🤞 Do call in for a guided tour if you’re passing. You may also like to visit Saddleworth museum in Uppermill to see some of our finds including this Roman lead weight
August 13, 2026 at 11:58 AM
We return to our excavations in the Roman fort annexe tomorrow & are there until Monday - everything crossed for some cooler weather🤞 Do call in for a guided tour if you’re passing. You may also like to visit Saddleworth museum in Uppermill to see some of our finds including this Roman lead weight
Definite Roman features such as stake holes and rectangular post holes are beginning to appear on day 3 of our excavations in the Roman fort annexe.
Huge thanks to our amazing digging team who have worked incredibly hard over the past 3 days 👏👏. We return this Friday #Castleshaw #Romans
Huge thanks to our amazing digging team who have worked incredibly hard over the past 3 days 👏👏. We return this Friday #Castleshaw #Romans
August 10, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Definite Roman features such as stake holes and rectangular post holes are beginning to appear on day 3 of our excavations in the Roman fort annexe.
Huge thanks to our amazing digging team who have worked incredibly hard over the past 3 days 👏👏. We return this Friday #Castleshaw #Romans
Huge thanks to our amazing digging team who have worked incredibly hard over the past 3 days 👏👏. We return this Friday #Castleshaw #Romans
Our 2nd day and Roman features are beginning to emerge - we think this area is a possible beam slot. We’ve also had a lot of visitors on site over the weekend and is been great to show them around. Bit cloudier today which has been good for showing up the features. We return tomorrow #Castleshaw
August 9, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Our 2nd day and Roman features are beginning to emerge - we think this area is a possible beam slot. We’ve also had a lot of visitors on site over the weekend and is been great to show them around. Bit cloudier today which has been good for showing up the features. We return tomorrow #Castleshaw
Day 1 and it’s been a warm one 🥵. Our fabulous excavation team worked really hard as usual de-turfing & digging down to the Roman levels. Let’s see what turns up tomorrow… #Castleshaw #Romans
August 8, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Day 1 and it’s been a warm one 🥵. Our fabulous excavation team worked really hard as usual de-turfing & digging down to the Roman levels. Let’s see what turns up tomorrow… #Castleshaw #Romans
Weather’s looking good so we’re hoping for a dry weekend of digging at Castleshaw 🤞 This will be our 5th year excavating the annexe and if you’d like to see some of our finds head to the fantastic Saddleworth Museum in Uppermill #Castleshaw #Romans
August 7, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Weather’s looking good so we’re hoping for a dry weekend of digging at Castleshaw 🤞 This will be our 5th year excavating the annexe and if you’d like to see some of our finds head to the fantastic Saddleworth Museum in Uppermill #Castleshaw #Romans
Two for the price of one… The early Roman fort and later fortlet in the beautiful Castleshaw valley. The road shows up really well as it climbs up Standedge towards the next fort at Slack #RomanFortThursday Excavations continue at the fort this weekend.
August 6, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Two for the price of one… The early Roman fort and later fortlet in the beautiful Castleshaw valley. The road shows up really well as it climbs up Standedge towards the next fort at Slack #RomanFortThursday Excavations continue at the fort this weekend.
Reposted by Friends of Castleshaw Roman Forts
#RomanFortThursday
Carsium was a fortress built in the #Roman province of Moesia in the 1st C A.D by the Emperor #Trajan on campaign against Dacia. The Ist Italica legion stationed there. It defended the province and the River Danube.
#Archaeology #History
Carsium was a fortress built in the #Roman province of Moesia in the 1st C A.D by the Emperor #Trajan on campaign against Dacia. The Ist Italica legion stationed there. It defended the province and the River Danube.
#Archaeology #History
August 6, 2026 at 7:30 AM
#RomanFortThursday
Carsium was a fortress built in the #Roman province of Moesia in the 1st C A.D by the Emperor #Trajan on campaign against Dacia. The Ist Italica legion stationed there. It defended the province and the River Danube.
#Archaeology #History
Carsium was a fortress built in the #Roman province of Moesia in the 1st C A.D by the Emperor #Trajan on campaign against Dacia. The Ist Italica legion stationed there. It defended the province and the River Danube.
#Archaeology #History